Some might find it odd that a firearm would claim to be environmentally friendly, but the new Haenel Jaeger NXT claims to be exactly that; a sustainable rifle with three environmentally friendly credentials making up its design. It is certainly intriguing. First is the stock, which is made of a…
Rifles
New guns and rifles at the British Shooting Show 2022 that caught the eye
Webley & Scott Imperial side-by-side shotgun With a nod to its past, Webley & Scott has produced a stunning side-by-side combining the best of the old with the best of the new. Traditional in appearance, with sideplates and colour case hardening, it also has a rib, single trigger, steel proof…
Ruger American Hunter
I have tested a few guns for Ruger recently and this one epitomises a trend for making more affordable rifles without skimping on accuracy or reliability. This is welcome news for shooters who use a rifle as a tool as part of their job, such as keepers. (Read our list…
Fierce Carbon Edge 6.5 PRC
I was unfamiliar with Fierce Firearms until recently, but the manufacturer has been causing a few ripples in the gun trade with its high-specification stalking rifles and ‘guaranteed’ accuracy at 100 yards. Based in Quebec, Fierce has hidden its talent for producing high-precision items for the firearms industry for decades…
Mossberg Patriot Predator .308 Win
Sometimes you just want a rifle to get the job done, be that for keepering, forestry or occasional stalking. Or perhaps you are someone who is not interested in the niceties that a more seasoned rifle shooter might look for. In both cases, price, reliability and accuracy are the primary…
Stalking kit chosen by Chris Dalton for Shooting Times
Early spring is a crucial time for deer managers, and I spend a lot of time on the ground monitoring deer movement and activity. Both sexes are becoming more active as the days lengthen, with the does feeding longer as embryos develop and the bucks thinking about territories and starting…
Mauser M03 rifle review – a blast from the past
Mauser M03 rifle review: With great design features and an attention to detail that puts other rifles to shame, we find the Mauser M03 stalking rifle a refreshing break from the norm.
The new HAENEL NXT – the first-ever ethical hunting rifle
Everybody involved in shooting and fieldsports needs to do their utmost to show their sport in the best possible light. When it comes to stalking, stalkers exhibit their responsible and principled behaviour in a number of different ways. By ensuring that the quarry is within range of a humane, first…
Tikka M55
The Tikkakoski manufacturing company has had a long and chequered history since it was formed in the late-19th century in central Finland. World War II saw it pass into German ownership before it was handed over to the Soviet Union in 1947. Ten years later, it was purchased by Finnish…
Weatherby Vanguard High Country: the ideal workhorse estate rifle
The ideal workhorse estate rifle The Vanguard range from Weatherby rifles was born from the need to produce an affordable version of Roy Weatherby’s Mark V actioned magnum rifle. Howa from Japan was assigned to manufacture the new Vanguard action, and it continues to be an utterly reliable and accurate…
Guide to being a better stalker: rifles and equipment
It’s time to focus on equipment: the rifle, ammunition and optic choices. There are a number of factors that will influence your decisions: complying with the minimum legal requirements for rifle and ammunition, the type of ground and terrain you stalk and, not least, the deer species. Budgets are also…
Ruger M77 Hawkeye Cerakote: the best of both worlds
If there was an award for the best long-lived modern rifle action, other than the Mauser 98, it would certainly go to the Ruger M77. Bill Ruger imagined a sporting rifle without compromise yet featuring the accuracy and reliability you would expect from a hunting arm, and the M77 was…
Unique Alpine Kodiak Scout
I have always been a sucker for a carbine. The short stature and feel of such rifles makes great sense for most of my woodland stalking. A carbine balances reduced weight with enough barrel length to be ballistically efficient, yet doesn’t impede you stalking through foliage. That’s why when Unique…
Merkel Helix Speedster – for all types of stalking
Straight-pull rifles are becoming more popular as their ability to offer a super-fast cycling rate with a short and effortless bolt-action design is appealing. German firm Merkel has had good success with its version of this genre in the Helix system, and the Merkel Helix Speedster model embodies all the…
Does your rifle fit you? Here’s how to find out.
I remember having to wrestle with my first. 22 rimfire, a BSA Martini action 12/15, out rabbiting. It was accurate but it weighed a ton, was far too long and the stock was short with a low comb. In those days we made do, but today attitudes have changed and…
Browning X-Bolt rifle review
Browning X-Bolt rifle: Browning’s X-Bolt deer stalking rifle is practical and affordable.
How to repair a broken firing pin
Step-by-step photo guide shows you how to repair a broken firing pin for around £70
Best lightweight rifles – we test a selection
I was two-thirds the way up ‘the Ben’ and puffing some when my companion started. “You should get a lightweight rifle, like mine,” he said. At that moment any rifle would have been too heavy, but I refrained from replying that maybe the 40-year difference in our ages ought to…
Long range foxing – how to go about it
Long range foxing early in the morning From where I sat, I could see the entire lambing field. All had remained calm until I noticed the ewe closest to the cover stand up and stare intently at the bushes. I was already watching the area after I noticed the blackbirds…
Schultz & Larsen Victory synthetic thumbhole £2,950
Verdict on the Schultz & Larsen Victory synthetic thumbhole version In this world of fast food and high-tech gadgetry, it is nice to see that some firearms manufacturers still move with the times — but not at the expense of real quality and engineering. Schultz & Larsen (S&L), whose rifles…